Environment & Energy
Environment and energy planning focuses on sustainability. Society wins by being able to use the environment in productive ways, and the environment wins by being able to sustain itself for future generations.Our goal is to meet the current needs of people and the natural environment without compromising the ability to meet the future needs of both.
HOW WE WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITIES
The MVP Planning Grant Program provides direct funding and support to cities and towns to complete a comprehensive, baseline climate change and natural hazard vulnerability assessment and develop prioritized actions and implementation strategies for dealing with priority climate change-related and other natural hazards using an accessible, tested approach called the Community Resilience Building (CRB) workshop guide, and begin broader community outreach. Upon completion of this process, cities and towns become eligible to apply to the MVP Action Grant Program to implement actions identified and prioritized through the Planning Grant Program.
In 2017, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) initiated the Commonwealth’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant program to help communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. The program provides two grant phases. The first grant phase is the planning grant, which funds a planning process to identify priority action items to address vulnerabilities and utilize strengths in preparation for climate change. The MVP planning process includes convening a team of municipal staff, engaging stakeholders in a Community Resilience Building Workshop following a guidebook developed by the Nature Conservancy, and engaging the public.
Communities that complete the planning grant program and prepare an MVP Plan, then become eligible for the second phase of MVP grant funding, the action grants, and receive increased standing in other state grant programs. MVP action grants fund the implementation of priority climate adaptation actions described in the MVP Plan.
Hazard mitigation (including mitigation activity) is defined by FEMA as any sustained action, measure, or project taken to reduce or eliminate risk of future damage, hardship, or loss to human life and property from disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) define Hazard Mitigation as any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards such as flooding, storms, high winds, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, etc.
Mitigation efforts undertaken by communities will help to minimize damages to buildings and infrastructure, such as water supplies, sewers, and utility transmission lines, as well as natural cultural and historic resources. A HMP is a strategy to create an action plan to reduce the impacts of natural hazards and climate change within the region.
To prepare and plan for emergencies that may impact the region, it is necessary to understand potential hazards, what their history of activity is, and how vulnerable the communities are to those hazards. By completing an HMP, municipalities also become eligible for specific federal funding and allow potential funding sources to understand a community’s priorities.
Hazard mitigation funding is available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To be eligible for FEMA Grants, local governments are required to prepare an HMP meeting the requirements established in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.
The Green Communities program offers a full range of energy initiatives and services to cities and towns. In accordance with the Green Communities Act funding is available for qualifying communities to implement energy-efficiency measures, construct renewable energy projects, or pursue other avenues to reduce their fossil fuel energy consumption.
Grants are offered each year by the Green Communities Division to municipalities, regional school districts, and water/wastewater districts to apply for funds to support clean energy projects at public facilities.
OCPC receives funds to assist municipalities apply for Green Communities Designation and coordinate municipal energy activities. OCPC provides MassEnergyInsight (MEI) assistance. MEI is an easy-to-use, web-based tool that benchmarks the energy performance of all municipally owned and operated buildings, as well as streetlights and vehicles
OCPC’s Joanne Zygmunt recently spoke at Sustainable Plymouth‘s event Balancing Sustainability, Growth, & Development in Plymouth. If you missed the event check out the YouTube video here.
